Military History

William is now listed as dying of wounds on 11th April 1917. He was originally reported as missing in action and a letter was written to the Red Cross on 20 Jul 1917 enquiring as to whether he had been taken prisoner on the 11th. The 1st Battalion war diary for that day is transcribed below.

Dug-outs S of Athies - 11^th [April 1917] - 2.30am: Conference at Brigade HQ’s and orders issued that 10^th Brigade will attack as 12 noon. Operation order attached [WO 95/1484/4].

8.30am: Battalion moved off to W of Fampoux and arrived 10.0am

11.20am: Battalion moved to assembly position on Sunken Road on E edge of Fampoux and arrived 12 noon. A&C Coys attack on 2 Coy frontage of 500 yards per Coy and B Coy follow in rear as carriers.

12 noon: Attack commenced and 1^st R Irish Fus and 2^nd Seaforth Highlanders start going forward.

12.10pm: A & C Coys followed by Coy follow those Battalions, our Battalion supporting 1 R Irish Fus. The enemy shelled our assembly positions heavily and we had many casualties before starting. The enemy’s machine gun fire held up our attack almost from the start and the Brigade consolidated a line about 400 yards in front of the assembly position.

Both Brigades on our right and left were held up also by M/Gun fire. Enemy put up a heavy barrage on assembly positions and vicinity. Battalion dug in and held a line from Huddle Trench at H.18.a.0.9 to H.18.b.1.3 with 2^nd Seaforth Highlanders on the left and the 1^st Irish Fus on right. Enemy fairly quiet at night. Very cold and snow.